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Poetry Showcase [Other] Moderators for this section: Weaver, ochsterboxter, CadenzRime, Lingua Pura, ososment, carolynrn, Inker

Romeo

Outline: A twist on a Shakespeare character.
'Romeo, Romeo. Wherefore art thou,
Romeo?' For wherever thou fore art,
I shall run in opposite direction.

You betrayer, murderer and would-be
present-day paedophile: why is your name
synonymous with the world of romance;

with the sending of roses; the wooing
of females; the virility men wish
for themselves? Such ill-learned stance.

You deceiver, you liar, you widened
war between feuding families, yet still
your name is whispered on a lover's breath.

Shakespeare gave you the wrong heroine;
Desdemona? No, unsuiting, nor fair
Cordelia. Methinks Lady Macbeth...

'Romeo, Romeo. Wherefore art thou,
Romeo?' For wherever thou fore art,
stay there. Don't come seeking my affection.
Author Explanation: It started out as blank verse, but it grew rhymes by itself. 'Present-day paedophile' - my reason: age of consent was around 12-14 for the era in which Romeo and Juliet was set.
BrianRobertNeal
[Thu May 08, 2008 2:49 pm] Watto Inker
When the life expectancy was c25-30 for females there is a sort of logic.

What makes it worse was that J was in fact a boy!

Brian

The reviewer would appreciate your comments on: Exploiter exploited?
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Inker
[Thu May 08, 2008 3:47 pm] Re: Watto Inker
BrianRobertNeal wrote:
When the life expectancy was c25-30 for females there is a sort of logic.

What makes it worse was that J was in fact a boy!

Brian

The reviewer would appreciate your comments on: Exploiter exploited?


Hi Brian,

Hence I said he would be a 'present-day paedophile', not in that era.

I've never heard of Juliet being a boy before. I think it was considered unlucky for a female to act in plays, so males would play both parts. Would be interested to read more re the sexing of Juliet.

Thanks for popping in.

Bestest,
Inker
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Logicus tracticus
[Thu May 08, 2008 4:17 pm]
Quote:
interested to read more re the sexing of Juliet.
Now that's porn....so make sure it not read on a computer..but if males why (cap-you-let) these being Dutch ones, we all know about Dutch boys fascination for sticking fingers in dykes...

line suggestion follows...(think halfrhyme)
You deceiver, you liar, you bringer

(synoecious* is from root some where)
your name, synonymous: a lover's breath.

liked the read..still room for more...(puck, bottom)



[*synoecious - having male and female reproductive organs mixed in the same gametoecium}
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read once for meter, twice for rhythm
thrice for rhyme, then again for
leisure or measure of pleasure;
you: parasites of no consequence:
Larkin
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BrianRobertNeal
[Thu May 08, 2008 4:28 pm] Watto
Re Juliet-merely ref to the fact that she would have been played by a boy-nothing else.
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Inker
[Thu May 08, 2008 9:36 pm]
Hi Brian,

I thought that's what you meant. Thank you for responding.

Hi Logi,

Now, I have thought about doing a few twists on Ol'Shake's characters, the Witches are rather tempting, hehe.

Re the ending of that line with bringer...I'd have to tag on an 'of' somewhere, which would mean I'd have to change the next line. But he didn't bring the war between Monts and Caps, that had been going on for a while beforehand, so I can see the rhyme but it wouldn't quite fit, unfortunately. Thank you muchos for giving me something to think about. midsummer Night's Dream is also one that could be played with, Lysander.

Interesting term you suggested.

Thanks for looking in.

Bestest,
Inker
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arthurian
[Thu May 08, 2008 10:20 pm]
Okay I read the gender politics in this - Romeo personifies the 'romantic dream' we are all (but especially women) forced to accept. Also Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy - a play where it all ends horribly.

So in reading this I question the narrative perspective - Is this a character in the play addressing the audience? Is this the poets voice? - There being an angry subtext within this. It 'feels' like a womans voice because of the ending - but up until then it could have been either gender.

In all a dark reading of Shakespeare - leaves me asking questions.

G
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Inker
[Thu May 08, 2008 11:21 pm]
arthurian wrote:
Okay I read the gender politics in this - Romeo personifies the 'romantic dream' we are all (but especially women) forced to accept. Also Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy - a play where it all ends horribly.

So in reading this I question the narrative perspective - Is this a character in the play addressing the audience? Is this the poets voice? - There being an angry subtext within this. It 'feels' like a womans voice because of the ending - but up until then it could have been either gender.

In all a dark reading of Shakespeare - leaves me asking questions.

G


Hi arthurian,

It's the poet's voice. Had it been a character in the play, how would they have known about Cordelia, Desdemona or Lady Macbeth? I was giving Romeo a more acerbic foil; someone who would have played him at his own game rather then simper and accept her outcome.

I'm fed up with hearing music (mainly R&B) glorifying this type of male; they've even used Juliet's name in the phrase: 'You, mah Julie.' Then there's the glorification of killing people in some records; games, considering it normal behaviour in our so-called advanced society. So, yes, there is a gender politic stance in this poem. I'm having a whinge!

As for 'romantic dream'. Hmmm, nightmare, more like.

A woman's voice - thought that would have come through in the third line, 'run in the opposite direction', although I suppose some men would do this anyway, lol. It's a codpiece, doncha know?

Oh yes, the play is a tragedy, as is Othello, again a duplicitous example of human connivance. And Anthony and Cleopatra. And Hamlet. And others...

Thank you for looking in.

Bestest,
Inker


Bestest,
Inker
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Piya
[Fri May 09, 2008 5:23 am]
I'm in total agreement with this.Romeo is one of the most completely overrated and dislikable characters of shakespeare....But I don't think too highly of Juliet either.You've expressed this beautifully Inker,read it through a couple of times...well done!
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Indie
[Fri May 09, 2008 6:18 am]
what a brilliant idea...

i was laughing all through- a lovely twist of perspective and brings out the truth in an altogether unique manner.

well done, hazel, well done!

indie
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Indie

Life,
Often moves sideways.

When least expected.

But we prophesying fools
plan, and plan, and plan.
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Ian Gould
[Tue May 13, 2008 11:03 am]
Okay, not getting into a what is and what should never be of a writer who may or may not have used his own ideas, or even gender at a time of male domination in the theatre. It may be subversive, a different time and open to interpretation. Romeo is a character and I enjoy the slant that has been given in this excellent little poem.
Er.... don't blame Shakey because Agatha C. didn't have to be a murderer to write about murder.
Inky, open yer bedroom window. I'm fed up of clinging on yer house growth. Inky, Inky, wherefore art...............Oh! water. Sad

Good un.

Ian

Err......I've never read Romeo and Juliet all through, word for word.(Guilt!) My shame.
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Ian Gould
[Wed May 14, 2008 12:31 pm]
Checking out this thought provoking poem again with it's twist(like the twisting of hands around Romeo's neck), maybe we should consider Casanover, Eros or even those impure Bible days (Mary is a big debate, Why put a girl so young through childbirth). In perspective 200 years ago we were pushing children up chimneys (children married within their working lives). In hindsight we have become decent and live within the rules laid down to protect. We are right to be shocked by history and stories written within that history. Hopefully we have moved on.

Sorry for unloading my thoughts.

We burn a Guy. Why not burn a Romeo on Valentines day.

What a brilliant poem.

Ian
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Inker
[Thu May 15, 2008 11:30 am]
Hi Piya, Indie and Ian,

Apologies for not responding sooner, but thank you, thank you, thank you for reading and commenting.

Am relieved to read that I am not the only one who thinks that some of these characters in literature adopted as heroes, aren't. They are characateurs of extremes and (I think) this is where literature (as has happened with other books and some video games) persuades behaviour. Of course, some literature is taken from life.

I expect Juliet (as with a lot of Shakey's female characters) were weak to show the strong masculinity expected. However, when you look at the strong female roles (Cleopatra; Lady M, Goneril, for example) you can almost see an emasculation occurring. Evem in one of his earlier works 'Midsummer Night's Dream', there are contrasting female and male strengths and characters, which only goes to show how great this man was to capture the little nuances and mannerisms, albeit some snatched from other history. If you don't believe me, I suggest you read that play, lol.

Ahh, now as for the Bible stories, Ian - I am working on some of these at the moment. I wrote a 'rant' re Mary for the NaPoWriMo, which is at the end of the thread as one of the 'I didn't post, but I wrote it' poems. I may post up the one I'm trying to get onto paper at the moment about Joseph.

Quote:
In hindsight we have become decent and live within the rules laid down to protect.


Indeed; most of us do.

Glad it got you thinking, Ian. LOL at burning a Romeo on Valentine's Day. Ahh, that made me giggle. Could just see it now taking place. As for Casanova, again...why is he considered an envoy for romance? He spread disease (ended up dying of syphillus, didn't he?), but it, again, makes you question not only the moralities of the time, but also the other men's behaviour...and the women's.

Aye, you got me thinking, too, Mr Gould.

Water, water everywhere...

*splash* I wish you'd stop calling up at my window like that, I'm trying to get some sleep!

Bestest,
Inker
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Ian Gould
[Thu May 15, 2008 12:26 pm]
Laughing Laughing
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Inker
[Thu May 15, 2008 4:35 pm]
Towel
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